The Championship is often described as one of the most exciting leagues in the world – sure, the Premier League has the most money and the biggest talents. However, the Championship has 24 teams all fighting to reach this league. It truly is a league where anybody can beat anybody, and everybody has dreams of seeing their name alongside the likes of Arsenal, Manchester United, and Liverpool.
An Introduction to Championship Betting
According to some sources, promotion to the top tier of English football is worth £170 million. Therefore, it’s not surprising that all 24 teams go to war for this position. With 46 games each season, it’s an exciting adventure and one that leads to lots of exciting betting.
This being said, exciting also means difficult. Fixtures come thick and fast for teams in the Championship; sometimes, teams can play three games in just over a week. Results are often inconsistent, and it takes some experience to win money.
In this guide, we’re going to talk about the features to look out for when choosing a betting site, popular markets, and some tips for Championship betting.
Important Features for Championship Betting Sites
When looking for betting sites, it’s important to keep a few core features in mind. Not all betting sites are equal, and it’s critical to keep this in mind. Below, you’ll find some of the features that websites consider when comparing platforms (including us!).
Of course, the most important thing is your own needs. Just because a friend loves a certain betting website, this means nothing if it doesn’t have the right features for you. Therefore, remember these features and how they compare to your own needs. Once you strike the balance, you’ll have a great betting platform for the foreseeable future!
- Markets
Firstly, you want a platform that offers lots of Championship betting opportunities. In our opinion, each fixture should have dozens of markets. This includes both teams to score, goal scorers, booking points, outright winner, correct score, and more. If you can only bet on outright winners, it won’t be long before you lose motivation for Championship betting.
- Odds
Don’t make the mistake of choosing a bookie without considering the odds. It might seem like a small matter, but it could be the difference between making £120 profit from a bet and £100. Over time, the small differences build up and you aren’t getting the most for your fantastic predictions. When choosing a bookie, consider the live betting odds as well as the pre-gaming betting odds.
- Website and Mobile Experience
This is something that often goes forgotten, but a poor-quality website or app will only cause frustration later. The very best websites display all betting options clearly, have simple navigation, and offer a pleasurable experience for all. We recommend testing various websites because some feel more intuitive and characterful than others.
When it comes to mobile, most people initially think that a mobile app is necessary…but this isn’t the case. As long as the mobile website is optimised and easy to use, you don’t always need an app. Naturally, those who prefer to use a mobile app for betting should ignore this advice and choose a platform with an advanced betting app.
- Security and Customer Support
These days, all betting sites should take security seriously as customers provide their personal information and banking details. More websites are using the best SSL encryption software to protect financial and personal details, and this is brilliant news.
At the same time, the bookie should offer strong customer support just in case something goes wrong. If possible, opt for a service with 24/7 support to correct errors and issues with your account.
- Banking Options
How will you deposit into your account? If you want to use a bank card, you’re in good hands regardless of which website you choose. If you have a specific eWallet in mind, however, you’ll need to do a bit more research. As well as depositing and withdrawing options, look at the minimum depositing and withdrawal amounts (as well as how long these transactions take). You don’t want to wait two weeks to see your withdrawal, nor do you want a minimum deposit of £30.
- Betting Features
Look back ten years and you’ll see that the betting market has moved on significantly. For one thing, betting features like live betting, live streaming, and cash out have become integral to the experience. Therefore, remember these features when comparing Championship betting sites.
All good betting sites should at least offer live betting and cash out – these allow you to bet on ongoing Championship games while also cashing out when the nerves start kicking in late in the day. Live streaming is a little more difficult since football TV rights are hotly contested.
- Promotions and Bonuses
Lastly, promotions are also important when choosing between various betting sites. You’ll inevitably enjoy a healthy bonus when joining the website for the first time, but what about later? Will you still enjoy promotions as an existing player? We think that loyalty should be rewarded, and this is why we appreciate a bookie that offers relevant promotions to existing customers.
In this guide, we’re talking about Championship betting, so tailored bonuses for this league are a good thing to look for during your search.
As mentioned, the best way to enjoy a happy experience is to choose the website/platform that best accommodates your needs. You should also consider responsible gambling, reliability, and other factors.
Popular Championship Betting Markets
What markets can you expect to find in the Championship market?
Outright Win
Naturally, the outright win is one of the most popular and this is where you simply choose a winner from a particular game (or a draw, of course!).
Under/Over
If you aren’t sure about the winner of a particular game, all is not lost because you can bet on goals instead. With this market, you’ll decide whether the game will have over or under 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, or even 4.5 goals. Fancy a five-goal thriller? You’ll want the over 4.5 goals market.
BTTS
In recent years, the BTTS (both teams to score) market has become one of the most popular. For one thing, it’s simple. Will both teams score in the game? If you select yes, you’ll need both teams to score in 90 minutes. Other markets have arisen from this one including both teams to score in both halves (you’ll need a score of at least 2-2 for this one to come in!).
Double Chance
Think a team will win but worried about a sneaky equaliser in the last minute? In this case, choose the double chance market and you can cover both the home team and a draw (or the away team and a draw). Therefore, the only way to lose this bet is if the other team wins.
First Scorer
As the name suggests, here you’ll choose who you think will score the first goal in the game. Again, the result doesn’t matter because your bet ends as soon as the first goal goes in (either with winnings or disappointment!).
Other game-specific bets include any time scorer, draw no bet, and booking points. However, the beauty of the Championship is that you can also place bets over the course of the whole season. For example, who do you expect to win the league? Who do you expect to make it up to the Premier League through the play-offs? Who do you expect to get relegated this season?
Although these are slow burners, it’s a rewarding feeling to see a season-long bet come in (and to get all the praise from your friends!).
